The Berry Patch is a place in TN where the Berry Family dwell, abiding in Christ and aspiring to become more like Him day-by-day.

Wednesday, August 09, 2017

August 9, 2017 … Giving My All?

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 221

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Hillsong United leading in worship and singing … Lord I Offer My Life To You … poignantly singing of our willingness to give our all just as Jesus offered up Himself for us.

=============Highlight Verse[s]: Exodus 32:32 [NLT] … 32 But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, erase my name from the record you have written!”
… Moses praying to God and willing to give his life for the lives of God’s sinful people.
==============Highlight Passage [context]: Exodus 32:31-32 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Moses was willing to give his all to save God’s people.
=============

Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Romans 9:2-3 [NLT] … 2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.
… The Apostle Paul willing to give his all for God’s people.

Reference Passage #2 [NLT ] : … Philippians 2:3-5 [NLT] … 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. … 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
… The Apostle Paul encouraging God’s people to be willing to be like Christ and give of ourselves as Christ was willing to give His all for all.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Mart DeHaan, used a story of a journalists regrets as he was release from captivity. The ODB author wrote: An Australian journalist who spent 400 days in an Egyptian jail expressed mixed emotions when he was released. While admitting his relief, he said he accepted his freedom with incredible concern for the friends he was leaving behind. He said he found it extremely hard to say goodbye to fellow reporters who had been arrested and jailed with him—not knowing how much longer they were going to be held.

As I take in the ODB illustration and God’s truth from His word, also above; … and than I take in deeply the linked song for today, sung by Hillsong United, I’m challenged as well as convicted. If I was given the challenge of offering up my life for any others in need, would I? … Certainly that’s a no brainer if you ask me to offer up my life for my wife, or our daughters, or our grandkids; … but would I be willing to do that for another Christian; or even tougher, … as Jesus taught in HIs sermon on the Mount, … would I be willing to offer my life for my enemy?

In the safety of my home, here in this quiet time with God this morning, I would pray that I would be such a Christian, as Paul exhorted in Phil. 2:3-5, … willing, as my Lord did, to offer up my life for others.

But in a pinch, would I? … I hope so!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … You have offered up Your life for mine. Help me to be willing/able to do the same for others. … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.